Bradenton reports court win in 70-year bus-bench dispute; city negotiating removal settlement
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Summary
City officials told the council a Manatee County circuit judge denied Metro Bench's request for a preliminary injunction, and staff are negotiating a settlement that would require Metro to remove advertising benches in the city and exchange mutual releases. Council signaled support for a negotiated, no-fee resolution and proposed a 120-day removal timeframe.
City attorneys and council updated the City Council on Feb. 11 about long-running litigation with Metro Bench over advertising benches in Bradenton.
Councilmember Perry described a hearing in Manatee County circuit court in which the city argued that Metro Bench's contract terms were nonterminable and that many benches failed engineering, accessibility and FDOT standards. An engineering survey of 47 benches found 45 that did not meet one of the applicable FDOT, Florida accessibility or federal ADA requirements, Perry said. The court denied Metro Bench’s request for a preliminary injunction, and city counsel reported the parties are negotiating a settlement that would require Metro to remove all benches within the city and waive claims against the city; the city would reciprocate.
Perry said staff recommended a negotiated resolution rather than prolonged litigation over discretionary legal-fee awards; council members asked about possible advertiser claims and whether the county could replace benches at key stops. City attorneys said advertisers contract directly with Metro and the city’s action targets Metro’s contractual rights and public-safety and accessibility concerns. Council discussed a proposed 120-day timetable for bench removal and signaled support for staff to finalize the settlement.
Next steps: city attorneys will continue negotiations, seek a settlement requiring removal and mutual releases, and report back to council when an agreement is prepared.
